Giants looking to make amends against Panthers in season opener

Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerDuring the season-ending loss to the Panthers last year, Giants fans are shown reacting after Madison Hedgecock blew a reception in the end zone during the fourth quarter.

Hakeem Nicks claimed he doesn’t even remember the Panthers game from last December.

“No, that was last season,” the Giants wide receiver said. “This is a whole new season.”

True, but on Sunday it will begin in fitting style: with the Giants playing the first regular-season game in the New Meadowlands Stadium against the same team they faced to close out Giants Stadium.

On that day, what was supposed to be an inspired performance to keep their postseason hopes alive while closing out their home for almost three decades in style, instead it quickly turned into an embarrassment.
Panthers 41, Giants 9.

As they prepare for the rematch with Carolina beginning with today’s practice, many of the Giants probably will take a similar, less inciting approach as Nicks by saying it’s all in the past.

But the truth is, they remember.

“I’m excited about Carolina coming in here first,” defensive tackle Chris Canty said recently. “To have the performance we did closing out the old Giants Stadium, it’s only fitting to have them come back and we open the new one with them as our opponent. I mean, it’s just fitting.

“They know they’re going to get our best shot and they shouldn’t expect anything less.”

Left tackle David Diehl and middle linebacker Jonathan Goff both said a loss like the one to the Panthers in December leaves a “bad taste in your mouth.” Diehl even said the fans “deserved more.”

Meanwhile, team president and CEO John Mara has expressed similar sentiments publicly.

Even the players who weren’t around last season have a sense for the players’ desire to make amends for the way they closed.

“We’re definitely looking forward to getting in here this week and getting to work and game planning the Carolina Panthers,” said linebacker Keith Bulluck, who signed in late July, “because from what I understand, they kind of put it on us pretty bad last year.”